VOA常速英语2015--批评人士称奥巴马免费的大学计划存在缺陷（在线收听）

Obama Free College Plan Flawed, Critics Say 批评人士称奥巴马免费的大学计划存在缺陷

College tuition and student debt have increased at a rapid pace in the past 20 years - raising serious questions about whether a student loan crisis may be brewing in the United States. Some, including President Barack Obama, believe the solution is to provide free community college education for students who qualify.  But some say throwing more money to fix the problem is not the answer.  

Higher learning - it’s an expensive, but necessary proposition in the 21st century job market.  But with tuition rates rising at a record pace, many Americans simply can’t afford it.  

在21世纪的就业市场，高等教育是个昂贵但却必要的前提。但随着学费以创纪录的速度上涨，很多美国人无法承担起费用。

Justin Mills enrolled at a two-year community college in Maryland - for about a third of the cost of a typical private college education.

贾斯丁·米尔斯被马里兰的一所两年制社区大学招收，缴纳的学费只是一般私立学院学费的三分之一。

The cost of tuition is probably the main reason why people don’t enroll in the first place because they are worried about coming out of it in debt - heavy student debt," said Mills.

“学费可能是人们无法入学的首要原因，因为他们担心会欠债，欠下沉重的学生债务。”

In his annual State of the Union address, President Barack Obama said not only does that hurt U.S. competitiveness - it’s also unfair.

巴拉克·奥巴马在年度国情咨文讲话中说，学费上涨不仅影响美国的竞争力，也是不公平的。

“That’s why I am sending this Congress a bold new plan to lower the cost of community college - to zero," said President Obama.

“因此我将向国会递交这份将社区大学学费降低到零的大胆计划。”

The president’s plan would eliminate tuition fees at two-year community colleges for students with at least a 2.5 grade point average.  But with an estimated price tag of more than $60 billion over 10 years, it’s unlikely to pass in the Republican-controlled Congress.  It's not just politics, though. Some say Obama's plan uses a sledgehammer where a chisel might do.

总统计划将平均绩点至少2.5的学生免交上两年制社区大学的学费，但估计10年内这将耗资600多亿美元，该计划可能无法在共和党控制的国会得以通过。这不仅是政治问题，有人说奥巴马的计划是在杀鸡用牛刀。

1.2 trillion dollars

Matthew Chingos is head of education policy research at the Brookings Institution.

马修·基诺斯是布鲁克林研究所教育政策研究负责人。

“It’s going to spend resources out over a large number of students, as a result not be generous enough for people who need the help and be too generous for people who don’t need the help," said Chingos.

“这个计划准备在大批学生身上花费大量资源，结果对于那些需要帮助的人来说不够慷慨，对于不需要帮助的人过于大方。”

In the past 20 years, the amount of money borrowed by American students to pay for a college education has quadrupled.  At more than $1.2 trillion, it’s bigger than the country’s total credit-card debt.  Despite the higher costs - Chingos' research shows the returns - more job opportunities and higher incomes - still outweigh the initial investment.   A better solution, he says, is to expand existing financial aid programs.

在过去20年间，美国学生为支付大学学费的贷款已经翻了两番，超过了1.2万亿美元，比该国总的信用卡借贷量还要多。尽管成本在增加，基诺斯的研究表明其带来的收益，即更多的就业机会和高收入，仍比最初的投资要多。他说更好的解决办法是扩大现有的财政援助项目。

“It comes back to this idea: should the policy be focused on people who need the help the most, whose behavior is most likely to be affected - or should we spread the same resources out over a much broader group of people?," he asked.

“那么就回到这个问题上来了：政策应该关注那些最需要帮助的人，那些行为最可能受到影响的人，还是将同样的资源花费在更广的人群？”

Critics say the president’s plan would not only mean big tax hikes for higher income earners - it would also eliminate tax breaks for those saving money for education.  But those in favor say the plan would more than pay for itself, reducing high school dropout rates and improving U.S. competitiveness abroad.  

批评者称总统的计划只意味着高收入者税负的大增，同时减少对省钱上学者的税收减免。但支持者称该计划不仅划算，还能降低高中辍学率，提高美国在国外的竞争力。

While unlikely to pass - Chingos says the proposal is helpful if it opens up discussion on the true cost of education - and if it leads to action that ensures all Americans can afford it.

基诺斯说尽管该计划不可能通过，但如果它能开启就教育真正成本的讨论，并促成确保每位美国人都能承担得起的行动，那么该计划还是有用的。